american bird conservancy - ThinkingAfield.org

10,000 Birds Dead as “Everglades of the West” Dries

April 17, 2012

Washington –Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are estimating that over 10,000 migrating birds have died so far this year because of reduced water flow to the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon and California. Officials say the final death toll may be close to 20,000 birds. Read more

New Government Initiative to Benefit Efforts to Save Declining Songbirds

March 12, 2012

Washington –The new “Working Lands For Wildlife” (WLW) project announced today by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture will provide substantial benefits to birds and other wildlife, but will be especially beneficial to the imperiled Golden-winged Warbler. Read more

Wildlife american bird conservancy, habitat restoration, songbirds, wildlife biologist

Agency Adds Additional Habitat Protection for Northern Spotted Owl

February 29, 2012

Washington–The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is recommending increased protection for some important old-growth forest in the Pacific Northwest to benefit the threatened Northern Spotted Owl, but at the same time is recommending management standards that could allow logging of owl habitat in forests east of the Cascades. Read more

Wildlife american bird conservancy, barred owls, cascade mountains, endangered species act, northern spotted owl, u s fish and wildlife service fws

Birders Say Wind Eagle Take Permit Not Justified

February 21, 2012

Washington — American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation’s leading bird conservation organization, has sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) voicing strong concerns about the first-ever application for a special permit that would allow Golden Eagles to be incidentally killed.

Golden Eagle by Glen Wunderlich

The proposed “incidental take permit,” submitted under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, would allow Oregon’s West Butte Wind Project to kill, harm, or disturb up to three Golden Eagles over five years, as long as certain conservation measures were implemented.

ABC’s letter charges that the data upon which an FWS decision would be based are markedly deficient, and that the federal government is not meeting standards prescribed in its own regulations published less than three years ago. ABC also cites emails, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, between senior Department of Interior staff casting doubt on the whether the project could ever be safe for birds, including Golden Eagles. Read more

Wildlife american bird conservancy, bald eagles, bird conservation, eagle protection act, golden eagle, golden eagles, u s fish and wildlife service, wind project